PODCAST · news
The Defrag
by Lawson Media
The Defrag is your guide to news at the intersection of technology, business, politics, and science. We'll ask hard questions, challenge ideas, and help bring some order to the news.
Episodes
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Will The Metaverse Destroy Meta?
We're a year into the metamorphosis of Facebook into Meta, and by all indications it seems the transition is putting significant pressure on the company. Meta's share price has dropped by around 70% since the rebrand and user adoption is slow. So how long can Meta continue spending on the…
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An Update
The Defrag will be returning on Tuesday 29th of November, but things will be a little different. We've also launched a new YouTube channel - you can subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@thedefragnews Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an...
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Video Game Movies
Game-to-film adaptations have a reputation for not living up to the expectations of fans. But despite this, they keep getting made, and it seems the frequency of these productions is increasing. So why does Hollywood keep returning to video game properties and can the newest generation of...
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Space Ambitions
Space is becoming more and more commercial. NASA is focused on outsourcing key parts of the Artemis missions to external companies, and there's big money on the line for those lucky enough to secure contracts. But what are the risks in outsourcing so much of the mission to external providers?…
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WWDC Recap
Apple's Annual Worldwide Developer Conference is on this week. So today on the show, a quick wrap of what was announced during the opening keynote.
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Sandberg Leaves Meta
Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down from Meta... and other important headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or...
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When Self-driving Cars Crash, Who’s Responsible?
Autonomous vehicles could revolutionise the automotive and transport sectors. They promise a future where you can hail a driverless taxi, or sit back and relax while your own car drives itself to a destination. While level five autonomous vehicles are still years away, one of the questions facing...
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Privacy: Priceless
Facial recognition is now in use across many apps and devices. For example, many of us use Face ID to unlock an iPhone or to gain access to other apps. But there are more concerning uses of the tech, particularly in public settings. One of the latest applications comes from Mastercard, that is...
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We're Listening
We're running a listener survey to learn more about you and the stories you love. Please take a few minutes to complete it. Visit https://thedefrag.com/survey
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Will Vitamins Help You Get Over Covid?
It’s long been said that vitamins like Vitamin C, D, or Zinc, can help speed up your recovery from illness. But is that really the case? And if you’re unlucky enough to be wiped out with covid, will popping a few vitamins, help you recover sooner? Sign up to our free newsletter at...
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Can Your Phone Get a Virus?
Do you ever feel like the amount of spam you're getting seems higher than normal? Well it turns out you weren't just thinking that, malicious attacks are actually on the rise. However it's not just your emails that are vulnerable, our mobile phones are too. Sign up to our free newsletter at...
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Google I/O
Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference is happening right now. It's a chance for the search giant to show off its latest innovations to the community. From advancements in translation tech, to new hardware, this year's event had plenty to offer. In this episode we dive into some of...
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Would You Rent A Tiny Home?
Australia is in a housing affordability crisis. Not only is it becoming harder to buy or build a new home, but in many locations around the country, getting a rental property is both difficult and expensive. This is a crisis that was exacerbated by the global pandemic. But could we reduce the…
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Twitter’s Edit Button
Twitter is working on an edit button. It's a much requested feature from users, but what impact could the ability to edit tweets have on its ecosystem? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord:...
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Nintendo Switch Sports
Until recently, the Wii was Nintendo's best-selling home console. Part of its success came from attracting more casual players with motion-controlled games that involved moving your body rather than using the buttons on a traditional controller. The wii has since been surpassed by the Nintendo...
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An Update
A quick update on The Defrag. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
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Is E3 dead?
During the pandemic, many companies embraced virtual events. Apple, for example, is still making highly produced, cinematic, keynotes and doesn't seem keen to return to a physical offering. And in the games industry, pre-packaged videos have become an effective marketing tool. But one major event...
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Athlete Data Privacy
Whether it's on the field, in training, or during sleep, professional athletes are constantly being tracked. The data collected is used to improve technique and performance, in the hope of gaining an edge. So much data is collected that it's not always clear why this information gathered or if…
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EV Emissions
With issues around global fuel supplies, and the impact of climate change, many people are now starting to consider a switch to an EV. But just how green are electric vehicles? According to a new study, where you live can play a big role in how climate-friendly your electric car actually is. Sign...
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Chocolate Scorecard
For a lot of people, Easter means chocolate. It's the chocolate industry's busiest time of the year. But not all chocolate is created equal. Child exploitation, environmental issues, and poverty are all major problems in the harvesting of cocoa. So how do you figure out if what you're buying this...
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Sounds Alarming
If you dread the sound of your alarm going off each morning, you don't need to change your life to become a morning person. New research shows that it may be as simple as choosing the right kind of alarm sound. Dawn Birds Deliberate Alarm Tone:...
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Podcast Listeners Are More Curious
New podcast research examining the social aspects of podcasting has discovered that there are similarities between the types of people who listen to podcasts. So can you predict whether someone listens to a podcast based on their personality? Sign up to our free newsletter at…
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Drink-Driving Tech
Fatalities and injuries caused by drink-driving have been on the decline in recent decades, but the problem hasn't been eliminated. Random police stops, and public awareness campaigns, have helped mitigate the issue but they can be expensive and unreliable. However new technology could be the...
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The Biphasic Plate
Breaking your femur can often involve a lengthy and painful recovery. However a new type of implant has been developed that could help stabilise these breaks and give patients some mobility while the bone recovers. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member...
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Will NFTs Go Mainstream? (Rebroadcast)
NFTs or non-fungible tokens - they're all the rage in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. However apps like Twitter are now integrating NFTs into their platform, and Samsung is now integrating an NFT marketplace into its television range. So has the technology hit a turning point that could...
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Playstation Plus vs Xbox Game Pass
The way people access and play console games is changing. Xbox Game Pass offers a subscription service akin to Netflix. You pay a monthly fee and get access to a bunch of top games. Now Sony has revamped their subscription gaming offering - updating Playstation Plus to deliver a more competitive...
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Artificial Flames
How can we learn to deal with fires that are becoming even more extreme, and unpredictable? The answer could be through the use of AI. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord:...
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Apple's Big Sports Bet
Contracts to broadcast major sports in the United States are regularly in the billions of dollars. But recently streaming sites have started moving into the live sports market. Amazon already has a deal to broadcast NFL, and now Apple is betting that live sports could be a popular addition to its...
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Tropical Fish Are On The Move
Tropical fish are packing up and moving south into new ecosystems that they've never lived in before. So why are they moving? And what impact is this move having on their behaviour? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and…
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Mars Simulation
Sending a rover to another planet like Mars is vital if we ever want to send humans. But developing a Mars rover takes years, and is a huge financial risk. That's why being able to simulate the martian environment on Earth is important. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/…
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Can Covid Shrink Your Brain?
Two years into this pandemic, we're all being told it's time to live with Covid-19. Many people are now vaccinated, and the death rate is dropping because of it. However new research shows that even if you just get mild symptoms, the covid virus could have a significant impact on your brain. Sign...
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Let It Grow
For a long time our strategy of dealing with the risk of fires has been to conduct hazard reduction burns. Less fuel, should mean less fires. However researchers have found that letting a forest grow might be the best strategy. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become…
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Have Finfluencers Gone Too far?
Finfluencers, or financial influencers, often provide financial information on social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. For the most successful influencers, they could see videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views, and lucrative brand deals. But some of these influencers have...
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Voice of the People
Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, one voice has stood out from the crowd. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter,...
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Is Meta Responsible For Scam Ads?
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook over scam ads on its platforms. The ACCC is alleging that Meta engaged in "false, misleading, or deceptive conduct" in relation to cryptocurrency scams on Facebook...
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Is Your Antivirus Software At Risk?
This week the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) issued a warning against the use of products made by the Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky. So who are Kaspersky, and is there a real threat from using its software? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ -...
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The Problem With Cobalt
Cobalt is used to help stabilise lithium-ion batteries. It can help manufacturers make batteries safer, while increasing energy density and ultimately improving battery life. However 70% of the world's cobalt mining happens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that is rich in...
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The Kyiv Independent
The Kyiv Independent was launched in late 2021 after journalists producing The Kyiv Post were fired after questioning hiring decisions made by its owner. Journalists went out on their own to start a new publication, and within a few months of launch found themselves covering a Russian invasion....
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Inside the World of College Esports
Competitive gaming tournaments have been around about as long as video games themselves. With the rise of professional esports in the 2000s, it was only a matter of time before esports made its way into universities. Now, colleges across the United States are embracing games and competition,...
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The Russian Oil and Gas Dilemma
The war between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant economic sanctions for the Russian economy. However these sanctions have involved a delicate balance, driven by a need to put pressure on Russia without creating issues for global fuel supplies. Sign up to our free newsletter at...
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The New Mac Studio
Apple has long captivated audiences with its product announcements, and this week's 'Peek Performance' event was no different. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord:...
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Why Do Social Apps Suddenly Care About Podcasting?
Social media apps like Facebook and YouTube have been investing in the podcast ecosystem. Facebook has integrated podcasts into its app for US customers, and YouTube is reportedly paying podcasters to film videos for its platform. Twitter and TikTok might also be interested in the podcast space.…
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Mike's Failed Energy Bid
Billionaire Co-Founder of Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes has failed in his bid to buy AGL - Australia's largest and oldest energy company. The AGL board just rejected a revised proposal saying it wasn't in the best interest of shareholders. To understand this decision it’s important to find out...
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Keeping Ukraine Online
The increasing conflict in Ukraine comes with a battle to keep vital services online. Internet access is an important communication tool, and there are concerns that Russia could try and target critical Internet infrastructure. So how is Ukraine's Internet fairing amongst all the conflict? Sign…
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Why Will a Stray Rocket Hit the Moon?
A large piece of space junk is due to slam into the surface of the Moon on Friday. It appears the debris is a booster from a Chinese rocket and will likely leave quite an impact on the lunar surface. So what do we know about this space junk? And what are we hoping to learn from this accidental...
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Bitcoin's Growing Carbon Footprint
Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, but using it comes at a significant cost to our environment. A new research paper has found that the carbon impact of Bitcoin increased significantly since China banned cryptocurrencies last year. So why are we seeing Bitcoin's carbon footprint grow?...
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Climate Check In
The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its sixth assessment report which looks at the impact of climate change across ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities. In this latest report, authored by more than 270 scientists from 67 countries, the IPCC raises...
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Changing Batteries
Lithium-Ion batteries are loved by device makers because of their energy density. However the materials used to make these cells aren't without significant ethical problems. So what new battery technologies might enable us to move away from Lithium-Ion? Listen to Command Line Heroes:...
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SWIFT Sanctions
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked significant anger from the rest of the world. In response, Russia is facing significant economic sanctions in an effort to restrict trade and the finances of Russia's elite. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also calling for Russia to be removed from…
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Human Authorship and AI
The US Copyright Review Board has determined that work created by an AI doesn't have enough human authorship to create copyright. So do our existing laws effectively cover copyright created in our increasingly automated society? Listen to Command Line Heroes:...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Defrag is your guide to news at the intersection of technology, business, politics, and science. We'll ask hard questions, challenge ideas, and help bring some order to the news.
HOSTED BY
Lawson Media
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Defrag have?
The Defrag currently has 69 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Defrag about?
The Defrag is your guide to news at the intersection of technology, business, politics, and science. We'll ask hard questions, challenge ideas, and help bring some order to the news.
How often does The Defrag release new episodes?
The Defrag has 69 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Defrag?
You can listen to The Defrag on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Defrag?
The Defrag is created and hosted by Lawson Media.
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